A Groomer's Philly Musts

Oct 03, 2014

BY MARNI PRICHARD MANKO

Duross & Langel owner Steve Duross celebrates 10 suds-filled years this month. Here, the grooming guru shares his staples. Steve Duross cuts blocks of soap in his Center City boutique. Steve Duross has spent the last decade crafting his indulgent line of homemade small-batch soaps, skin balms, and bath products at Duross & Langel (117 S. 13th St., 215-592-7627). But for someone who is on his feet 12 hours a day, he’s all about casual elegance. “I always buy a boot. I adore anything by Cole Haan (1600 Walnut St., 215-985-5801) because of the LunarGrand technology.” For dressier occasions, he turns to Commonwealth Proper (1839 Chestnut St., 267-319-1741), who designed his favorite blue suit. “They get that they’re fitting for my body. If my suit’s not fitted correctly, I look like I’m about to have my first communion all over again.” For dressier occasions, he turns to Rittenhouse suit atelier Commonwealth Proper. When it comes to grooming, Duross is humbly aware that he’s biased toward his own goods. “My shave cream, called Shave, beats everyone’s shave cream, hands down, and I use our Essential Face + Body Wash made with cold-pressed limes and vetiver essential oils.” And while 95 percent of the time he cuts his own hair (“I could do it in my sleep with my eyes closed”), the only other place he heads to is Richard Nicholas Hair Studio (1716 Sansom St., 215-567-4790). “The people there really do amazing work,” he says. Cole Haan’s LunarGrand technology helps keep Duross bouncing after 12 hours on his feet. About his fitness regimen, Duross says he likes to keep his workouts “as straightforward as possible with things like progressive resistance: pull-ups, push-ups, lots of crunches.” To get in fighting shape, he works out at The Sporting Club at the Bellevue (224 S. Broad St., 215-985-9876) or Unite Fitness (105 S. 12th St., 215-733-0633). “My staff and I partner with Unite and have tons of classes so we can all train together.”